Sample Press Release: Prematurity Awareness Month
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: date
Contact: Project Spokesperson
Contact Phone:
Contact Email:
“fight for preemies”
November is Prematurity Awareness Month
[City and state of your organization]- [Name of your organization] and collaborating state and local organizations are encouraging our communities to recognize November as Prematurity Awareness Month. Together we hope to ensure that every woman has a healthy pregnancy, gets early prenatal care and support services, learns about safe sleep, and makes choices that promote healthy lifestyles for a lifetime.
Prematurity has steadily risen over the past two decades. One out of eight babies is born prematurely in the United States. Preterm birth is defined as a live birth before 37 completed weeks gestation. Babies born too soon are often born too small. Compared to other babies, preterm babies are more likely to face lifelong health problems or even to die in the first month of life, especially if they are born very preterm (less than 32 weeks gestation).
According to the March of Dimes 2010 National Premature Report Card (comparing each state’s rate of premature birth to the nation’s objective of 7.6 percent or less by 2010), Kansas received a “C” for its preterm birth rate of 11.2 percent. In 2009 in Kansas:
· 1 in 11 babies was born preterm.
· Between 2000 and 2009, the rate of preterm births increased nearly 5 percent.
· Compared with singleton births (1 baby), multiple births were about 8 times more likely to be preterm in 2009
“Statement from identified spokesperson . . . regarding this rate and score card,” said [insert your organization director or local health official].
Every pregnant woman should be considered at risk of preterm birth. Around the 20th week of pregnancy, all pregnant women should learn the signs and symptoms of preterm labor and what they can do if they occur. To help prevent preterm birth, women should:
· Know the warning signs of preterm labor.
· Get regular prenatal checkups.
· Reduce stress.
· Quit smoking, drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs.
· Avoid secondhand smoke.
· Call a healthcare provider if she feels burning or pain when urinating (possible sign of an infection that can increase the risk of preterm birth).
Over the next several months [insert organization name] along with members of the Kansas Blue Ribbon Panel on Infant Mortality will strive to increase public awareness and education about prematurity, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), safe sleep, and other issues related to the high infant mortality rate in Kansas. “I ask you to join us in the effort to promote awareness of prematurity and its outcomes as well as support early and regular prenatal care to reduce risks for preterm delivery,” said [insert your organization director or local health official].
To learn more go to:
[insert your organization’s website]
http://www.marchofdimes.com/kansas/
www.datacounts.net/infant_mortality/
www.kdheks.gov/bfh/infant_mortality_campaign.htm
On [insert date, time, location], [insert your organization’s name and event or activity that will be held to promote SIDS awareness]. Please join us in our efforts to address this important public health issue. For more information about the event please go to: [insert organization website].
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